In a remarkable year of focused effort and synergy, 39 Gorkha Training Centre (39 GTC) achieved new sustainability benchmarks. Varanasi Military Station did the same. They have also advanced community welfare. The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) and the Residents Welfare Association (RWA) jointly lead an effort in Varanasi Cantonment. Their leadership has introduced many eco-friendly innovations. These efforts have transformed the area into a cleaner, greener, and more dynamic environment. This milestone transformation aligns seamlessly with the broader mandates of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the Fit India Movement.
Ban on Single-Use Plastics and ‘Thaila Ghars’
Early last year, the AWWA banned single-use plastic and polythene. ‘Thaila Ghars’ have been introduced to provide cloth bags made from donated fabric. These bags are available at station gates and shops. This initiative reduces reliance on plastics. In tandem, ‘Boxes of Kindness’ collect clothing and toys for underprivileged recipients. Unusable garments are repurposed into additional cloth bags for widespread use.
Waste Management at the Source
To strengthen good waste-management practices, a robust Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign has cemented segregation at the household level. Blue, Green, and Red bins are allocated for wet, dry, and bio-hazardous waste respectively. Battery-operated collection vehicles begin their rounds at dawn, broadcasting Swachh Bharat messages and minimising dependence on roadside bins. This approach ensures safer disposal and better protection for sanitation workers.
Incentivising Responsible Disposal
A distinctive scheme of Waste Credit Points has been implemented. It allows residents to deposit wrappers and plastics at a specialised ‘Plastic Kachra Bank’. This offsets the manufacturing costs of various products. Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding with SHYNA ECO UNIFIED enables discarded wrappers to be purchased at INR 5 per kilogram. Instant UPI payments encourage digital transactions.
Conservation Projects and Zero-Waste Initiatives
Integrated conservation efforts have yielded remarkable outcomes. Interlocking PET tiles, made from waste plastic, provide durable, anti-skid walkways. Eco-bricks plastic bottles stuffed with polythene are used to build benches, sculptures, and seating areas, showcasing a functional circular economy. Meanwhile, bio-toilets constructed from recycled plastic sheets feature bio-digesters that convert waste into usable water.
Creation of a ‘Green Auditorium’
39 GTC addressed a longstanding need for a communal venue. They revitalised older barracks to create a fully air conditioned, solar-powered auditorium overlooking “Phewa Taal.” The facility is equipped with a 55 KW rooftop solar project, including 30 kW off-grid. It reduces electricity costs for the venue. Additionally, it offers a comfortable setting for film screenings, lectures, and gatherings. This environment is free from humidity and intrusive noise.
Harnessing Solar Energy and Battery-Operated Fleet
Rooftops and vacant areas within the cantonment have been surveyed for optimal solar-panel placements. A broad fleet of zero-emission vehicles now includes garbage-collection e-vehicles, mini fire tenders, and pump platforms. It also includes garden-squad vans, e-bakery vans, e-carts, and e-ambulances. E-scooters and e-cycles are part of this fleet, significantly lowering the cantonment’s carbon footprint. This integrated effort recognises Varanasi’s critical pollution levels, as flagged by the CPCB and WHO.
Modern, Eco-Friendly Facilities
Renovation of 38 toilet-washroom complexes follows green-building principles, focusing on ventilation, water conservation, and hygiene. Food packaging waste, Tetra Packs, and wrappers are recycled into fire-retardant ‘plast ply’ sheets. These sheets are used for sentry posts and launderette roofs. A 1000 L/h Reverse Osmosis plant in family lines eliminates the need for individual units. The ‘Green Laundrette’ demonstrates how to recycle RO discharge water efficiently. A refreshed JCO/OR Transit Facility provides modern, morale-boosting amenities for personnel.
Holistic Water and Waste Solutions
Filtration tanks with iron grids remove debris from incoming sewage. Twin-chambers of charcoal and sand also eliminate waste. Meanwhile, Gambusia fish control mosquito larvae. Flow from the railway STP powers turbines that generate hydroelectricity for a natural walkway. Updated cookhouses, strengthened by weigh-and-account procedures, reduce wastage and employ bio-methanation to convert kitchen refuse into LPG. Used cooking oil, collected under a separate MoU, is repurposed for other utility products.
Enhancing Comfort and Hygiene
A solar-hybrid bathing system ensures hot showers for trainees during severe winters, thus preventing skin ailments. Overhead covers allow effective drying of clothes in damp conditions. A modern laundrette steams garments in boiling water. This helps minimise contagions. Measures such as centralised air-cooling make living spaces comfortable. Roof painting for heat reflection helps keep spaces safe. Magnetic mosquito curtains, and insulated water tanks ensure spaces remain disease-free.
Community and Residential Upgrades
Community kitchen gardens, set up on vacant land patches, boost camaraderie and cut down on water misuse. Car parking and security are enhanced through chain-link fencing and orderly parking sheds. ‘Boxes of Kindness’ encourage donations of clothes, toys, and small appliances. The revamped Sainik Suvidha Parisar ensures a secure environment for daily shopping and recreation. It draws residents away from chaotic local markets.
Pioneering Training Infrastructure
A Bailey bridge now grants easy access to the Shingo Training Area, consolidating training grounds into a 300-acre pace. Meanwhile, drone development, 3D printing, and a ‘Bahadur’ drone prototype have established 39 GTC as a hub for aerial innovation. Digital studios, LED screens, and logistics or counter-insurgency training centres improve the quality and reach of instruction. Walk-through sand models (WTSM) simulate desert and mountain warfare. Rubber INSAS rifles and Khukri fighting drills sharpen skills. Other culturally relevant methods are used as well. Extensive IT training has led to practical software solutions benefiting ECHS, URC, and various land-management functions.
A Model for Future Sustainability
By fusing societal well-being with responsible environmental practices, 39 GTC, AWWA, and RWA have created a blueprint for progressive transformation. Sporting events, community engagement, and ongoing competitions reinforce the spirits of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the Fit India Movement. Varanasi Station is a testament to the power of collective will. It now stands as an exemplary model for sustainable growth.
